Golf putting practice device

ABSTRACT

The ends of an arcuate spring member are held apart by a detecting member which is adapted to collapse and actuate a signalling bell when struck by a golf ball putted into the receiving area defined by the arcuate spring member. The collapsible detecting member includes two parts which are pivotally connected to the arcuate spring member and to each other.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Frederick Joseph Hitch 188 St. Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, Australia [21] Appl. No. 793,309

[22] Filed Jan. 23, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 [32] Priority Jan. 25, 1968 [3 3 Australia [54] GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICE 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

52 use! 273/177, 273/184 [51] lnt.C1 ..A6 3 b 57 00,

[50] Field of Search 273/177, 178, 179,180, 183, 184, 185, 127, 14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,176,991 4/1965 Niamtu 273/184(A)X 3,184,240 5/1965 Gleeson 273/184(A)X Primary Examiner-George .1. Mario AttorneyGabriel P. Katona ABSTRACT: The ends of an arcuate spring member are held apart by a detecting member which is adapted to collapse and actuate a signalling bell when struck by a golf ball putted into the receiving area defined by the arcuate spring member. The collapsible detecting member includes two parts which are pivotally connected to the arcuate spring member and to each other.

PATENTED FEB 2|97| 3559.997

GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICE This invention relates to a golf putting practice device which is portable and which may be readily used indoors or outdoors.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf putting practice device comprising an arcuate spring member mounted so as to define a golf ball receiving area, a detecting member adapted to hold the ends of the spring member apart so as to allow entry of the golf ball into said receiving area, said detecting member being adapted to collapse when struck by the golf ball entering said receiving area, and signalling means adapted to be actuated by the collapse of the detecting member.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view on a smaller scale showing the position of the device after it has been actuated by a golf ball.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings the golf putting practice device is provided with an arcuate spring member lll formed preferably from a length of spring steel, the spring member 11 being mounted on a pillar 12 adjacent one side of a base plate 13, with the concave face of the spring member 11 facing away from the base plate 13 so as to fonn a golf ball receiving area. The base plate 13 preferably holds the spring member 11 clear of the ground, and it also serves to hold the spring member against movement when struck by a golf ball.

The ends of the spring member 11 are held apart by detecting means 14 at a distance greater than the diameter of a golf ball so that the ball may pass into the receiving area formed by the spring member 1 l. The detecting means 14 of this embodiment preferably comprises a metal plate extending from one side of the spring member to the other, across, and preferably at right angles, to the path of a golf ball entering the receiving area. The ends of the metal plate are pivotally connected to the spring member 11. The metal plate is formed in two parts 15 and 16 which are preferably of equal length, the parts 15 and 16 being connected together by a hinge 17, the length of the parts 15 and 16 being chosen so that the parts are held normally in the one vertical plane against the force applied by the spring member 11, but are also capable of assuming a substantially horizontal V-shaped form as seen in FIG. 3 when struck by a golf ball B entering the receiving area, the force applied by the striking ball together with the force exerted by the arcuate spring member 11 being sufficient to cause the metal plate to snap into its V-shaped configuration.

ln this embodiment the signalling device comprises a bell 18 mounted on the pillar 12 above the spring member 11 the bell being positioned so as to be struck by an upwardly directed striker arm 19 projecting from the hinge l7 connecting the two parts 15 and 16 of the metal plate, when the plate snaps into its V-shaped configuration when struck by a golf ball. The striker arm 19 striking the bell 18 thus gives an audible indication of a golf ball having entered the golf ball receiving area.

In use the practice device is set in a suitable position with the metal plate forming the detecting means 14 having both parts 15 and 16 thereof lying in the same vertical plane. When the golfer putts the golf ball directly into the golf ball receiving area, the ball B strikes the metal plate causing it to snap into its V-shaped configuration, thus allowing the striker arm 19 to hit the bell 18 to generate an audible signal indicative of the ball entering the receiving area.

lclaim:

l. A golf putting practice device comprising an arcuate spring member mounted so as to define a golf ball receiving area, a detecting member adapted to hold the ends of the spring member apart so as to allow entry of the golf ball into said receiving area, said detecting member being adapted to collapse when struck by the golf ball entering said receiving area, and signalling means adapted to be actuated by the collapse of the detecting member.

2. A golf putting practice device as claimed in claim I wherein said detecting member comprises a metal plate formed of two portions of substantially equal length hingedly connected to each other, each end of the metal plate being pivotally connected to said arcuate spring member so as to normally lie across the path of the golf ball entering the receiving area, the hinged portions of the metal plate being adapted to collapse to a substantially V-shaped configuration when struck by the golf ball entering the receiving area.

3. A golf putting practice device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said signalling means comprises a bell positioned so as to be struck by a striker arm mounted on said metal plate when the metal plate collapses to its V-shaped configuration. 

1. A golf putting practice device comprising an arcuate spring member mounted so as to define a golf ball receiving area, a detecting member adapted to hold the ends of the spring member apart so as to allow entry of the golf ball into said receiving area, said detecting member being adapted to collapse when struck by the golf ball entering said receiving area, and signalling means adapted to be actuated by the collapse of the detecting member.
 2. A golf putting practice device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detecting member comprises a metal plate formed of two portions of substantially equal length hingedly connected to each other, each end of the metal plate being pivotally connected to said arcuate spring member so as to normally lie across the path of the golf ball entering the receiving area, the hinged portions of the metal plate being adapted to collapse to a substantially V-shaped configuration when struck by the golf ball entering the receiving area.
 3. A golf putting practice device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said signalling means comprises a bell positioned so as to be struck by a striker arm mounted on said metal plate when the metal plate collapses to its V-shaped configuration. 